National Arts Centre – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

Clearly, the huge crowd that packed Ottawa’s National Arts Centre believes that old Bausch is better than no Bausch at all.

But there is a thorny problem that exists in the dance world. Should a company that is so identified with one creator, continue after that creator’s death?

Take, for example, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.

When Bausch died in 2009, long time company dancer Dominique Mercy, and Bausch’s artistic assistant/rehearsal director Robert Sturm, became co-artistic directors. It is their firm belief, along with the company dancers, that Bausch’s works must live on.

The company performed Danzón, a work created in 1995. It’s an interesting choice for this post Bausch era, because it is one of the choreographer’s most dancey and most poignant pieces.

Bausch has not just created an homage to the art form itself. Danzón is, more importantly, her musings on the dance of life.